Supersonic swing-wings at Ohakea By HELEN HARVEY - Manawatu Standard | Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Ohakea resounded to the sound of fast jets yesterday - but they belong to the Australians.
Three Australian Air Force F-111 bombers have flown the ditch to take part in an airshow at Whenuapai Airbase, Auckland, at the weekend, and to undergo training in mountain flying.
Project officer Flight Lieutenant Pete Lambert said there aren't many mountains in Australia.
"So we have brought junior aircrew over, and are taking them on mountain operations."
The jets are minus their weapons, and the crews will simulate weapon delivery during their training exercises, he said.
The exercises are being held over mountains in an area south-west of Queenstown.
It took the jets 45 minutes to fly from Invercargill to Ohakea yesterday.
Earlier, they flew across the Tasman at a more sedate pace - taking three hours, which is the time a commercial flight takes.
The planes are staying away from tourist areas, Flt Lt Lambert said.
The RAAF has 35 F-111 bombers, which Flt Lt Lambert said are as smooth as a Cadillac. He said that when the RNZAF had its own attack jets, RAAF pilots used to come to New Zealand quite often.
"But we don't any more . . . just occasionally for mountain operations."
The jets are able to take photographs, so while they are in New Zealand the RAAF crews will take photos of the area around Waiouru for the New Zealand Army.
One of the F-111 jets flies back to Australia on Friday and the other two head north to Auckland.
One of the jets will be a static display at the airshow and the other will fly and "dump and burn" fuel, Flt Lt Lambert said.
"A 100-foot flame comes out the back end. At night time, it's a ripper. Day time, you can still see it."
The crew will practise over Ohakea today.
Flt Lt Lambert said the jets take off on their training flights about midday and return by 5pm, so won't keep anyone awake at night.
"If they hear something, it's not us," he told the Standard.
The F-111s, which are based at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, have a crew of two - the pilot and a navigator who also operates the weapon systems.
The RAAF also has more than 60 FA-18 twin-engined supersonic fighter jets.
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